MWC Watch: No. 5 DB

After his first season as a starter in 2012, Boise State junior safety Jeremy Ioane has established a reputation as a tough physical player who can hit you like freight train.

Ioane finished 2012 as the Broncos’ second-leading tackler, with 70 total tackles, and also made three interceptions.

The Hawaiian native is a high school teammate of Manti Te’o, the former Notre Dame star who was drafted by the San Diego Chargers in the second round of the 2013 draft, and the two helped Punahou School to a state championship.

Te’o made it to the pros, and there’s a good chance that Ioane will as well.

Ioane was named an All-Mountain West Honorable Mention selection in 2012, and he’s been named to Phil Steele’s preseason All-Mountain West second team.